Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-08-27

AllNAA NNh AANAAN AANAAiNf AAANHhh WY
from it, as ! believe, their restleSsness
increased their anxiety.
Uncle Abe, unshaven and coatless,
wandered about the lower part of the
house, making frequent visits to the
cellar. 1t was in vain that Della coax
ed him to go with her to the "chu'ch
in de holler,n in which he was deacon
and a shining light. To all her en-
treaties he vouchsafed not even an in
telligible reply.
Else a mizzable ole sinner, Marse
Win" he said to me; a feels dough |
done backslid."
As we left the church that evening,
the sound Of the iirc-alarm bells came
to my ear, and | learned by the num-
Der which struck that the fire must be
near us. ! saw, however, that my wife
was forgetting her anXieties in 4 ple"s-
ant chat with friends and | had not the
heart to disquict her. E~ngrossed as |
also was, the matter quite slipped my
mind, until a sudden turn in the street
showed us our W home wrapped,
from the second story upward, in
flames.
An ample insurance somewhat al
layed my excitement and quoted my
fears of loss. But, in the hope that |
might be able TO save some of our
household treasures, l passed the fire.
mems rope and ran to the parlor. To
ascend the stairs which led to the
chambers | saw would be impossible.
In the intensely heated and sitting at
mosphcrc, the best that | could do was
hastily to load my arms with a few OF
our most valuable possessions and
hurry ont.
As | stumbled down the steps, ]
heard a shout from the crowd outside.
Gaining II place of safety, | laid down
my burden, cleared my eyes of the
binding smoke and looked backward,
Judge of my surprise and dread at be-
holding Noah Peters, a look of grim de-
termination on his face, running rap
idly up the ladder which the lircmcn
had left!
''Hc acts like 4 fool Niger said a
%bystandcr; but they say there's a
baby of his in the house.
Everything was explained. Noah,
coming to make his daily call for news,
had understood, in some way, that his
child had been found, and was in the
house. lie had started to save her.
That portion of the ladder which
rested against the sccond-Story window
had caught fire. As he ncared it, Noah
bounded to the iyy-trcllis; and using
that frail support for 4 %foothold, drew
himself up by the water-pipe until he
disappeared amid the smoke which
burst from an upper window,
Then Uncle Abe, his countenancc like
that of q dead man, came to my side,
''God help de boy--an' mc!' he
groaned. He's done gone to death an
| killed him, DEFY, go cit dat baby.
She's slowed away in de little els
term"
At that moment Noah's face was
seen at the window, Framed in the
lurid glare, it looked death-strickcn
and despairing. Abe fell on his knees
in the midst of the crowd. As loud as
| could | shouted: Come! your child
is hcrc!n as Della, whose fear had lent
her wings, pushed her way to us, hold
ing Noah'S baby to her own broad
breast.
The fire was all about him now, but
the sight of the little one for whom he
had pcrilcd life gave him new courage.
Down through the smoke and flame,
catching at the cracking %trcllis, touch
ing his feet on the corniccS, clinging
to the pipe which had aided his ascent,
he came to us, falling, Il bleeding,
burning mass on The scorchcd grass at
our feet.
$50 to your fodder, Lily" said
Uncle Abe, %Solemnly. Il kain'tlub you
no bctter'n he does. ! see it now"
Tendcrly the injured man was borne
TO the shelter Of n h~ospitable ncighbor's
house. With him went the child"
Had Noah's 'ifc been at the mercy Of
anovelist, he might have died. As this
is a true story, it becomes me to say he
did not die. His recovery was not
speedily brought about, and he will
carry to his grave the marks of the in.
iuries winch he received that night
yet he is now restored to health, and
happier, more content and prosperous
than ever before.
In the long days of anxious waitin,
during Noah's convalesccncc, Abe toll,
me, bit by bit the story of his selfisl
and criminal attempt to keep Lily.
use amizzablc sinner he confessed
Noah lowed if 'twuzn't for dat bah,
he'd 90 to Californy, an reckone,
dat # | could hide her awhile he'd g
an we mout hev her. ] reckermenl
bcrcd dar want no water in dat da
little c~istcrn, so I put her in dar, al
DEFY didn' kno muffin bout it. D
baby-huh!-she wuz dat tickled wi
her 'cubby-house' she'd a-staycd do
tell de crack o doom!
~ stole dat truck from de pantry
but | ncbbcr did no sech ting afoah.
Il kinder s'cuscd myself dat Noa
didn't lub that baby same way we die
Now DEFY says he tcllcd her we all Ii
togcddcr wen he done got well. All
dat good oh him? Ise afcared Ise to
mizzablc n sinner TO lib wild anybod
but myself, but | amt got no doul
but Noah'll take good car OBJ dat
baby!'-Walter l.. Samyer, in Youth
Companion.
About Black-Headed Pins.